How can drama help bring the stories of the Torah to life. Etta Abramson invites us to use acting in the classroom as a way to help students internalize, communicate, and empathize with the message of Jewish te... xts. Jewish identity is not just wrapped up in being able to read texts, Abramson asserts, but in being able to internalize them. Acting encourages students to become active learners and to emotionally, as well as intellectually connect with Jewish texts.See lessSee more

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Students will be more engaged and behave better when educators teach with enthusiasm, using acting techniques such as physical and vocal animation, role-playing, and the use of suspense and surprise, according to the authors of a book on acting lessons for teachers. Included: Acting techniques classroom teachers can use.

The use of drama has been used over the course of history from the time of Aristotle, who believed that theatre provided people a way to release emotions, right to the beginning of the progressive movement in education, where emphasis was placed upon "doing" rather than memorizing.

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Etta Abramson is a Jewish educator, theater artist and ritual consultant, dedicated to connecting her students both intellectually and emotionally to Jewish literacy and ritual. Etta is pursuing MA degrees in Midrash and Jewish Education at JTS, where she is as Botwinick Graduate Fellow awarded for her work in Jewish pluralism. Etta currently teaches at Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan, Mechon Hadar and Drisha Institute. She is a Wexner Fellow and a trained actress and vocalist.